A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF HARLAN E. BOYLES, FORMER STATE TREASURER.
Whereas, Harlan E. Boyles was born on May 6, 1929, in the rural community of Vale, in Lincoln County, the son of Curtis E. Boyles and Kate S. Boyles; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles attended Lincoln County Public Schools 1935‑45; and
Whereas, stricken with polio at the age of 15, Harlan Boyles spent a year recovering in facilities at Hickory and Charlotte; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles graduated from Crossnore School in Avery County in 1947, where Dr. Mary Sloop and other teachers saw a potential for greatness and encouraged him to continue his education; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1951 with a degree in accounting; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles was employed by the State of North Carolina in 1951 as an auditor with the Department of Revenue; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles became a certified public accountant in 1955; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles, with his abundant energy, his impeccable integrity, and his devotion to North Carolina quickly captured the admiration of the late Edwin M. Gill, then the Commissioner of Revenue; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles was named Deputy State Treasurer when Edwin M. Gill was appointed State Treasurer; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles' first assignment was to lead the effort to attain a Triple‑A credit rating for North Carolina, which he did promptly; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles served as Deputy State Treasurer 16 years, his principal assignment as Secretary of the Local Government Commission in which role he assisted local government units in managing their public finance with particular emphasis upon the prudent use of debt; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles was elected State Treasurer in 1976 and, until his retirement in 2000, was reelected to a total of six four‑year terms culminating in a career of 40 years in the Department of State Treasurer; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles during his more than 49 years in public service witnessed an era of unprecedented growth and prosperity for the State of North Carolina; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles served nine governors and countless legislators; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles counted among his major achievements the maintenance of North Carolina's Triple‑A credit rating which saved taxpayers millions of dollars in borrowing costs for building schools, highways, and other infrastructure; and
Whereas, during his tenure as State Treasurer, trust funds under his prudent management grew from under $3 billion to more than $70 billion; and
Whereas, as State Treasurer, he served on more boards and commissions than any other official except the Governor, and in each of those capacities, Harlan Boyles served with distinction, offering generously of his experience and wisdom to help serve the people of North Carolina; and
Whereas, as an ex officio member of the State Board of Education for 24 years, Harlan Boyles became a consistent and outspoken advocate for improving our public schools; and
Whereas, as an ex officio member of the Board of Community Colleges, Harlan Boyles became a consistent and outspoken advocate of the various technical and worker training programs offered by our outstanding system of community colleges; and
Whereas, as Chairman of the State Banking Commission, Harlan Boyles recognized the importance of strong financial institutions as a foundation for economic growth and vitality of the State's commerce, and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles has helped pave the way for North Carolina becoming one of the nation's great banking centers; and
Whereas, as Chairman of the Local Government Commission, Harlan Boyles continued the effort begun during his 16 years as Deputy State Treasurer of assisting local governments in becoming financially sound, and at the time of his retirement, North Carolina had more Triple-A units of local government than any other state in the nation, in fact, accounting for 25 percent of all the nation's Triple-A units of local government; and
Whereas, under Harlan Boyles' leadership as Chairman of the Boards of Trustees of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Local Government Employees' Retirement System, and Firemen's and Rescue Workers' Pension Fund, North Carolina earned the enviable distinction of having the best managed public employee retirement system in the nation, perhaps in all the world; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles also served ably as a member of the Council of State, Chairman of the Tax Review Board, Chairman of the North Carolina Educational Facilities Finance Agency, Chairman of the North Carolina Solid Waste Management Capital Projects Finance Agency, member of the Capital Planning Commission, North Carolina Housing Partnership, and the North Carolina Air Cargo Airport Authority; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles was recognized by his peers who elected him President of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, and was named Public Official of the Year in 1995 by Governing Magazine; and the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers gave him their President's Award in 1995; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles was the recipient of numerous professional and public service honors, including: the North Carolina Award for Public Service 1999; North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry Distinguished Service Award 1987 North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Distinguished Service Award 1993; Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award by the NC Association of CPAs 1994; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Distinguished Alumnus Award 1995; and Honorary Doctorate Awards by Appalachian State University in 1994, Campbell University in 1995, and Catawba College in 1996; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 2000 and received the I. E. Ready Award for Distinguished Service to the North Carolina Community College System in 2000 and the A. E. Finley Award for Distinguished Service in 2002; and
Whereas, Appalachian State University established a lecture series in his honor in 1991 and it continues successfully to this day; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles was the author of numerous articles on public finance, and the highly acclaimed book, "Keeper of the Public Purse," published by Appalachian State University in 1994; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles, in addition to being a good and dedicated public servant, was a loyal and devoted member of his church, Westminster Presbyterian Church of Raleigh, during his entire adult life, serving as clerk, treasurer, deacon, and elder; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles died on January 23, 2003, at the age of 73, but his legacy continues with his wife of 51 years, the former Frankie Wilder of Johnston County; daughters, Mrs. Phyllis Godwin and husband, James R., of Raleigh; Mrs. Lynn Butler and husband, Jeffrey, of Raleigh; son H. Edward Boyles, Jr. and wife, Meg, of Charlotte; and five grandchildren, Kelly Butler, Zachary Butler, and Clint Ferrell of Raleigh, and Harlan Boyles III and Blair Boyles of Charlotte; and
Whereas, as State Treasurer and as a public servant in other positions, Harlan Boyles earned the respect of colleagues and peers throughout North Carolina and the nation for his financial acumen, his knowledge and wisdom, his strength of character, and especially for his great sense of personal integrity; and
Whereas, in his prime, Harlan Boyles was considered the best State Treasurer in America; and
Whereas, Harlan Boyles will be remembered by all who knew him as a man devoted to his family, church, community, State and public service; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Harlan Boyles and expresses the appreciation and gratitude of this State and its citizens for his life and service to the people of North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Harlan Boyles for the loss of a dearly loved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Harlan Boyles.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.